I'm looking to upgrade my in dash nav unit with something a little more current.

Right now I have an Eclipse ANV6620

It's not a bad little unit but it's getting to be quite outdated with the maps and it's not really dimmable at night so it's like driving with someone holding a flashlight in your face.

I've been looking at the Pioneer AVIC line, specifically the AVIC8200NEX.  I do not need any of the fancy phone connection stuff as my phone does not do any of that anyhow.  Steering wheel controls are also not an issue.  Want something does work with MP3 as well.


Just looking for some input from folks who may have these head units and how they like them?  Also is the display actually dimmable other than just a preset when you turn your lights on?

I prefer my Garmin windshield mounted GPS/NAV.

I don't have to look down to see it and updates are easy.

My Cayenne has the factory NAV unit, but I like the Garmin better.

Agreed whole heartedly. A window mount GPS blows any in dash solution away. 

If you have a smart phone then skip the window mount GPS out the water. 

One thing about the smart phones is that you have to have a cell signal for them to work.

My son-in-law has some family property out in the middle of nowhere and that directions didn't work without a signal.

My Garmin did.  

My buddy bought a Joying 8.1" android head unit. I laughed.

Then I saw it, he runs Waze and Google maps. Nice unit.

I just bought the wife a Garmin Drive Smart 50, a relatively newer model on the market. Works great. To add the navigation to my present screen would be very expensive compared to what the Garmin cost. Happy wife....happy life!

This! My truck has nav, but the Garmin unit is so much better and you keep your eyes on the road when looking at it.

I paid about $90 for my nuvi 55lm 2 years ago. Free lifetime map updates. Chevy wants $140- $160 per map update.

If you have the route set before you lose service it'll be fine.  You're screwed if you go off route or try to route to a new location and you're w/o service though 

For me anything phone based is not an option as I am still rocking a 13 year old flip phone.

A Garmin is nice but sticking anything else to my windshield is also not anything I want to do.

So that brings me back to updating my head unit with something a little more modern.

You can buy a good Garvin for $200. or less and an air vent mount for about ten bucks. Window mounts don't work for us either.